End of meme. Am I being too pissy about this?

You have as much right to career expectations as anyone. If your product is not getting the reception you're hoping for, it makes a lot of sense to spend your powers on something that works better for you.

You have as much right to career expectations as anyone. If your product is not getting the reception you're hoping for, it makes a lot of sense to spend your powers on something that works better for you.

Yep. I'll confess to a certain feeling of responsibility, though, which is what's actually pinging my damned conscience meters: I set SMP's expectation patterns in concrete by always having at least 15K of the next book in the series right there when they remembered that, hey, looky, there's more, option clause, when can we see oh, done? Thank you.

But they had the chance - when they bought Cruel Sister - to specify an option on books five and six, and they didn't. So I'm kinda thinking I'm off the hook for any expectations they may have about me doing it on spec, whether the original expectation was enabled by me or not.

Like I said, hopefully not too pissy.

Flintstone Valium would be nice. Except I'd probably end up taking them all.

But I'm sure as hell not writing Bruton Town on spec.

Uh, that would be a huge no.

It surprises me that they didn't offer for more than one book with Cruel Sister. Going one book at a time is not at all fair to you, and honestly just creates more paperwork for them. If they're committed to the series, they should show it. And grab one of their own paperback slots while they're at it.

Still, one can hope the sub-rights chick is doing her thing trying to sell the series elsewhere. And I can check with You Know Who at Kensington sometime, if you want, you know. But won't, unless you ask, because I do understand how politicky it all gets, and not wanting to step on toes and all that.

That said, yeah, if they offer for Bruton Town, and/or another one, I would do it if I were you. Like you said, keeps your name out there, positive reviews coming in, etc.

Now off to do many, many errands before my trip (wheeee!) to Tampa tomorrow.

It surprises me that they didn't offer for more than one book with Cruel Sister. Going one book at a time is not at all fair to you, and honestly just creates more paperwork for them. If they're committed to the series, they should show it. And grab one of their own paperback slots while they're at it.

Yes, this. Man, we do tagteam nicely, don't we? Seriously, I just keep blinking at them and going, um, dudes, piss or get off the pot already, wouldja...?

Just saw Press.

KRISTEN! That is so damned cool.

Yeah. You are a goddess, woman!

Thanks! I am 27 shades of giddy right now!

Thanks! I am 27 shades of giddy right now!

hoisting glass of really good, really dry bubbly stuff toward Kristen

This just seriously rocks.

Sombre, but what else is new. For Teppy's Lost and found challenge:

Maybe

You're around here somewhere. I know it.

Maybe in those journals? The ones where I pray for your return and pretend I hated you? Those. Damn - no, not in there.

Maybe in those dreams I've had for so many years? You know, the ones where I wake sobbing, calling out in the night, empty and broken, desperate to keep what couldn't be kept. No? Damn.

Maybe in the new books? More of you, certainly. But so much missing, so much misplaced, distorted, ached for.

Maybe someday, I'll find you where you've probably been all along: tucked perfectly into my heart.

Hey I have a question. Having finished a draft I've got feedback from an editor (one who publishes a magazine not books so not in a position to buy it) who suggested some reorg, I've been doing an outline of my new reorg - but the though occured to me - whoever buys the book may want to organized it differently. Maybe at this point I should start sending out query letters either to literary agents or to publishers. Or - given that this is on a complicated subject maybe I should wait unti the book is perfect to try to sell it.